Chapter 28 " Wendy , what the hell happened to your face ? " Teresa's voice cracked . Wendy's cheek was a mottled purple , her left eye swollen shut . When she pulled off her cap , fresh bruises ringed her scalp like ugly bracelets - some patches were bald where hair had been ripped out . Teresa's stomach flipped . " George again ? " Wendy only nodded , no tears left . Disappointment had long passed its sell - by date , yet she still wouldn't leave the devil's side . To linger by him and still keep her life - that alone was fortune enough . Teresa grabbed her phone . " I'm calling the cops . " Wendy caught her wrist . " Patch me up first ." Teresa sighed and gave in . Just as she finished patching up Wendy's face , and was about to take off her gloves , Wendy rolled up her sleeve . The sight of mottled skin and dried blood made Teresa's stomach turn . " What kind of spell did he put on you ? He's beating you like a drum and you're still here ? " Wendy gave a hollow laugh . " Eight years , Teresa . I keep telling myself he'll wake up one day . " Teresa pressed the cotton ball so hard Wendy flinched . " Which one matters ? A man or your life ? " Wendy winced in pain but made no sound . " I … I won't let it happen again , " she murmured weakly . Teresa's anger flared . She tossed the tweezers into the curved tray with a clang . " Next time I see you , it'll be in the morgue . " " That won't happen … " Wendy's voice trailed off , lacking conviction . " Jesus , Wendy , " Teresa snapped , frustration boiling over . " You really that need a man ? " Wendy kept her eyes downcast , unable to meet Teresa's gaze . " If I leave George … no one else would want me … " Teresa's hands clenched in frustration . She remembered the same words from her own family . Whatever . You can't save someone hell - bent on destruction . No matter how much Teresa lectured , Wendy's stubborn nature wouldn't listen . Some lessons had to be learned the hard way . Resigned , Teresa silently continued dressing the wounds . " Maybe … maybe I'll talk to George about this , " Wendy offered timidly , clearly trying to placate her . Teresa ignored the empty promise . " You know these injuries are enough for assault charges , right ? Wendy fell silent . Wendy's phone buzzed - George's name lit the screen like a slap . She flashed it at Teresa , eyes shining . " He still cares . " Teresa kept her head down , responding with only " Min ." I wasn't that she did carr , but she knew Wendy all too well Words were useless . Some Ieasons worked more On speaker , George's voice was flat ' Where are you ? " " In the hospital Wendy answered tears tunatly sputting George didn't skip a licat . " I want a nickel atau baled beef for bunch Wendy biodh face already reaching for by pure shop and cook na Chapter 28 To Wendy , all of this was p proof that George still wanted to make their marriage work . Teresa's hand froze mid - air . Same script , different actress . She'd once thought a second baby would glue Charles to her - different man , same delusion . God . Now to see , her past seemed utterly foolish . After Wendy left , Teresa got three or four more patients . Try as she might , she couldn't shake her concern . Finally , she sent Wendy a text , " Remember to take your meds . Keep those wounds clean . " Not a single word about the relationship . At noon Teresa ducked out for a quick bite , detoured past a bistro , and froze . Through the glass she saw George feeding steak to a woman dressed like a Yeon sign . Instead of taking the bite , she first dragged her plush lips slowly across the meat . A deliberate tease lasted before finally closing her mouth around the fork . Under the table , her foot was playing footsie with his ankle like it was a joystick . George couldn't resist the provocation . His hand shot out , seizing the woman's slender ankle . With a gasp , she lurched forward across the table - her collar gaping open to reveal a flash of porcelain skin that burned itself into the retina . They carried on shamelessly , not even bothering to draw the curtains - such brazen audacity . But what made Teresa's blood boil was George's promise to return home for dinner . That foolish girl Wendy was probably still waiting , dinner growing cold . Teresa snapped a photo , hit dial . " Is he home yet ? " " No , he's stuck at work , " Wendy said , voice hopeful . Work , huh ? This is the so - called work ? Teresa pocketed the phone . She stormed inside before the waiter could blink . George was talking with the girl , not even noticing Teresa at all . Soon , his smirk evaporated when red wine splashed across his face , followed by a slap that left Teresa's palm tingling . The woman beside George shrieked in alarm , scrambling into the corner like a frightened rabbit . It took George a stunned second to react before he shot up from his seat , finger jabbing accusingly at Teresa . " Have you lost your damn mind , Teresa Sullivan ? " Teresa met his glare head - on . " You know exactly what you've done , George Ford . How dare you play the victim ? " A flicker of guilt crossed his face before he deflected , turning on the frozen waitstaff . " What kind of establishment is this ? I'm a paying customer - are you just going to let some lunatic assault your patrons ? " Before the staff could respond . George barked . " Call security ! Get this madwoman out of here ! " Teresa scoffed , already turning on her heel . " Save your breath . I know the way out " She was about to leaving But George wasn't done . You dank you can just slap me , dung wine on my head , and walk away ? " His voice turned venompia . " Dream Di Teresa ' iguring him . Tereas sirude pat gawking duen - only to end her path blocked by Bashing police lights before she'd even reached the foned statis An officer hold up tas beder , then showed dating phone footage of her mailing Georgs- P P. Chapter 28 The handcuffs clicked shut . 1000 AD